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I was delighted to find out that three of my COC colleagues in our breakout room were wearing lipstick from the same Indigenous-owned business - Cheekbones. When we buy from Indigenous businesses, we are supporting growth and sustainment in Indigenous communities. In the afternoon, I visited Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre’s Indigenous Legacy Gathering. I spoke to the Family Information Liaison Unit who provides access for family members of MMIWG - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Transgender and Two-Spirited People. I learned that this is a program that is support by my colleagues in the OPS.

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I want to thank the SOC and our Senior Leadership for creating this learning opportunity. It is important for us to dedicate time to educate our selves and reflect on what was done to indigenous peoples. 

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I want to thank the SOC and our Senior Leadership for creating this learning opportunity. It is important for us to dedicate time to educate our selves and reflect on what was done to indigenous peoples. 

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There are a bunch of incredible book recommendations being raised—wanted to link to an opportunity to purchase from a First Nations family-owned bookseller & Indigenous publisher on the Six Nations of the Grand River.

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Indigenous Educational Resources for Schools and Libraries

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GoodMinds.com, is a First Nations family-owned business and passionate about Indigenous education. We supply Indigenous educational resources for schools and libraries in North America, while continuing to promote Indigenous authors, illustrators and translators. Our French Collection of resources continues to expand.

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I come to this with humility and an openness to learn. As a fifth generation settler and having grown up in the 70’s and 80’s, I was taught a very ‘white-washed’ version of the history of this country. I grew up in a time and among family and friends who were openly racist and rather uneducated about the lived experience of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. When the opportunity presents itself, I try have frank conversations with friends and family, with the “how would you feel if” scenarios, to try and help them pause and think about why there is much suffering in the Indigenous experience. Education in schools for me is the key to reconciliation. Our youth have the potential to not continue this legacy, but it starts with ensuring a complete history is taught. To quote from today, “Truth isn’t good or bad, it’s just the truth.” 

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I come to this with humility and an openness to learn. As a fifth generation settler and having grown up in the 70’s and 80’s, I was taught a very ‘white-washed’ version of the history of this country. I grew up in a time and among family and friends who were openly racist and rather uneducated about the lived experience of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. When the opportunity presents itself, I try have frank conversations with friends and family, with the “how would you feel if” scenarios, to try and help them pause and think about why there is much suffering in the Indigenous experience. Education in schools for me is the key to reconciliation. Our youth have the potential to not continue this legacy, but it starts with ensuring a complete history is taught. To quote from today, “Truth isn’t good or bad, it’s just the truth.” 

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Truth and Reconciliation is more than just a day.

It is a reminder that the truth, however hard is like a strong stain on the history which should not have taken place.
It is the struggle, and inhumanity that was faced by our fellow human brothers and sisters
It is the realization that we need to wake up, a pledge to stand up for it to ensure it doesn't happen in the future.
It is the knowledge that we need to pass on to our future generations to make them aware, to treat everyone with respect, to combine forces and protect the coexistence of cultures.
It is a symbol of hands that we need to join and live together as one humankind
It is the inspiration we take from the lives of the indigenous community to fight for what is right in an ethical way, to keep going on.

It is more than just a day, it is a part of life.
-Rashmi Laljee

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A MUST WATCH >>> The most succinct and impactful 2 minutes you'll spend learning about the history of Indigneous people of Canada.

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8th Fire Wab Kinew 500 Years in 2 Minutes

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As a newcomer to Canada and some other people like me think when they first time hear about this suffering of Indigenous people and sorrowful history, that this is not something very new as it has happened/ is happening in many parts of the world in one form or another. I realized and I would like to tell them too, not all pain/suffering are same. May be we can not do something for all the people that has suffered / are suffering in the world. But we can definitely do something for people of the land we are living on. In terms of doing something, the least we can do is acknowledging their pain and being grateful to them for the land. And using this opportunity as the day of leaning, listening, understanding and reflecting towards reconciliation.

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When I think of the word "reconciliation" in this context, especially in pairing with "truth", I read it as the definition meaning "the act of making (one account) consistent with another". It's about bringing our histories, stories, peoples and paths together - to make our accounts consistent with those of the people who were here before us, to honour our treaties and the promises that representatives of our peoples agreed to in the founding of our communities, to recognize how we got here and where we are going, and to realize the truth of the name "Canada" - that we are one village.

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A book I will be checking out today for further learning and reflection.

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Divided by a beautiful valley and 150 years of racism, the town of Rossburn and the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve have been neighbours nearly as long as Canada has been a country. Their story reflects much of what has gone wrong in relations between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians. It also offers, in the end, an uncommon measure of hope.

Valley of the Birdtail is about how two communities became separate and unequal-and what it means for the rest of us. In Rossburn, once settled by Ukrainian immigrants who fled poverty and persecution, family income is near the national average and more than a third of adults have graduated from university. In Waywayseecappo, the average family lives below the national poverty line and less than a third of adults have graduated from high school, with many haunted by their time in residential schools.

This book follows multiple generations of two families, one white and one Indigenous, and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada. It is a story of villains and heroes, irony and idealism, racism and reconciliation. Valley of the Birdtail has the ambition to change the way we think about our past and show a path to a better future.

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valley of the birdtail: an indian reserve

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Valley Of The Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, A White Town, And The Road To Reconciliation

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A heart-rending true story about racism and reconciliation Divided by a beautiful valley and 150 years of racism, the town of Rossburn and the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve have been neighbours nearly as long as Canada has been a country. Their story reflects much of what has gone wrong in relations between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians.

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Stepping into truth allows for breaking barriers to create more unity.
The bigger picture is to start making the lives better by making relationships, creating unity and through remembering and honoring the lost lives, the generational trauma by creating programs/ opportunities to heal and come togethering to create a place of safety and build relationships.

We are taught to remember in history to not relive the past. When people are not provided the truth and not affected directly the lack of knowledge to allow for understanding made it hard and facing the truth allows for further change into a better direction. Thank you for all the organizers and management to make this matter a priority.

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If you haven't already done this virtual tour, it is powerful and important. Very thankful to the P&D Division for organizing a tour for us to attend together a few months ago.

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Phyllis Webstad - On Orange Shirt Day (video)

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Phyllis Webstad - On Orange Shirt Day (video)

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Found this very thoughtful for a better understanding why we wear an Orange Shirt today.

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How can we use our special position in relation to power to address the calls to action issued by our Indigenous communities?

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Royal Conservatory of Music Livestream to Commemorate Truth and Reconciliation at 8pm

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Royal Conservatory of Music Livestream to Commemorate Truth and Reconciliation at 8pm

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For those who are looking for a virtual event to share with family, RCM is hosting a free livestream tonight of their commemorative concert.

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WATCH LIVESTREAM

The Royal Conservatory starts the new Koerner Hall concert season by honouring the lives and knowledge of Indigenous people. Dancer, storyteller, and activist Sarain Fox guides an evening that includes Juno Award nominee Nimkii; then Rebecca Cuddy sings a song cycle by composer Ian Cusson and poet Marylin Dumont (all Métis) accompanied by the New Orford String Quartet and Philip Chiu; and Tomson Highway unveils his irreverent and freewheeling "Cree Country" band with singer Patricia Cano. Co-curated with Denise Bolduc.

This event is currently at capacity in-venue. Please contact our box office to be included on the waiting list for tickets.

This event will be livestreamed for free on Friday, September 30 via RoyalConservatory.live. Click here to t une in online at 5pm PT / 6pm MT / 8pm ET.

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line, 1-800-721-0066, is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his or her Residential school experience.

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Commemorate Truth & Reconciliation: Co-curated by Denise Bolduc, Sarain Fox, and Mervon Mehta | The Royal Conservatory of Music

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WATCH LIVESTREAM The Royal Conservatory starts the new Koerner Hall concert season by honouring the lives and knowledge of Indigenous people. Dancer, storyteller, and activist Sarain Fox guides an evening that includes Juno Award nominee Nimkii; then Rebecca Cuddy sings a song cycle by composer Ian Cusson and poet Marylin Dumont (all Métis) accompanied by the New Orford String Quartet and Philip Chiu; and Tomson Highway unveils his irreverent and freewheeling "Cree Country" band with singer Patricia Cano.

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Using today as a day for continued learning. I recognize it is a privilege we are given the opportunity to hear and listen about traumatic experiences in history, that continue to have lasting impact. I recognize we cannot forget and it is our responsibility to continue talking, learning, listening and understanding, taking any steps we can toward reconciliation.

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Using today as a day for continued learning. I recognize it is a privilege we are given the opportunity to hear and listen about traumatic experiences in history, that continue to have lasting impact. I recognize we cannot forget and it is our responsibility to continue talking, learning, listening and understanding, taking any steps we can toward reconciliation.

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A CBC video to watch with your kids to learn & reflect as a family today:

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A CBC video to watch with your kids to learn & reflect as a family today:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEj5vjc2EDk

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Today is a day to learn not only about history, but tangible actions and direct resistance to continued colonial dispossession: the Oka Crisis, 1492 Landback Lane, reparations, Indigenization, direct governance. Don't leave it to a land acknowledgement and a recitation of historic crimes while ignoring the continuing violence that our entire government and society continues to profit off stolen genocided land. https://taiaiake.net/2022/09/25/on-reconciliation-and-resurgence/

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Today is a day to learn not only about history, but tangible actions and direct resistance to continued colonial dispossession: the Oka Crisis, 1492 Landback Lane, reparations, Indigenization, direct governance. Don't leave it to a land acknowledgement and a recitation of historic crimes while ignoring the continuing violence that our entire government and society continues to profit off stolen genocided land. https://taiaiake.net/2022/09/25/on-reconciliation-and-resurgence/

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So grateful that this space and work is being prioritized for us today.  I've spoken with a few friends in other organizations today and they don't have the kind of thoughtful programming and time that we will share today. Thank you.

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So grateful that this space and work is being prioritized for us today.  I've spoken with a few friends in other organizations today and they don't have the kind of thoughtful programming and time that we will share today. Thank you.

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I want to learn what I can do to advance the process of reconciliation.

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Today is a designated day of reflection and a learning opportunity. However, there are tangible actions we can take everyday as allies. Know whose land you are on and the history of that land. Learn about the treaties and title talks that are ongoing in the territories you are in. Learn about the stories of the missing & murdered. Learn the calls to action and consider how you can help push for the implementation of them. Understand what systemic oppression is. These are a few named actions out of many. Please don't forget that there are actions toward reconciliation that we can take on a daily basis.

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Indigenous, orphaned, molested, tortured, starved, abandoned, betrayed, this is for all the beautiful children….

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Indigenous, orphaned, molested, tortured, starved, abandoned, betrayed, this is for all the beautiful children….

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I am using this day as an opportunity to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation. To me, reconciliation means understanding and learning from the past and making a conscious effort to change the way things are being done today and for the future. The effects of residential schools are still present and I know educating myself is a small step towards reconciliation.